I played the first 2 closed betas and felt very dissapointed, got about as much gameplay as a lvl 10 in any other mmo and was left to repeatedly grind the same maps over and over again for prestige just to get to the next mission, was at this point in tge first beta and tgrough the whole of the 2nd beta still could not get the prestige needed to progress. I thought I was doing something wrong but apparently it was intended that way, I dont mind this at end game but after a few hours into just starting the game is the most rediculous crap I have come across. I have finally found that one game that I can honestly say was the stupidest decision I have made by buying into it. *slaps himself up the side of head for wasting his money*
Personally have already logged in for my 7 days of login rewards, unlocked a few classes through playing and just lost all interest. Uninstalled yesterday and felt good about it. That alone speaks volumes.
Unfortunately I never could share your initial positivity about the game, Bill. Don't get me wrong, I'm still playing it too, but mainly because I love the Ascension Atlas. Everything else however is rather annoying.
For being that instanced and repetitive the game would have to have a really good and really action-oriented combat system. Which it doesn't have in my opinion, and that's my biggest problem with it. It's just an oldschool target-lock system in modern disguise. Half of the time dashing or active aiming makes zero sense, we just do it for giving ourselves the impression that it benefits us and because we feel that this should be the way how it's played. But most of the standard attacks even give you a message if you don't have any target which already tells you everything.
1. the weekly caps. I cannot progress in the history because I do not have enough prestige (level) and I cannot gain more for this week because
- the drops in instances are always lower than my current ones.
- I capped the sparks limit (currency), so I cannot learn more talents.
- I capped the mastery sparks limit (another type of currency), so I cannot improve the rank of my weapons and rings. I fear the high quantity of this currency that will be needed to upgrade the ranks above level 5. How many weeks will you need to gather enough currency because the weekly limit?
- The rhythm at what you gain prestige from followers is very slow. Besides, It requires a lot of resources. As above, I fear that at higher levels you will need to farm a lot of weeks because of the weekly caps.
In conclusion, it reminds me a lot the phone games where you need days or weeks to upgrade a single structure.
2. FX Visuals. Yes, the FX are quite gorgeous... too much gorgeous I would say. As a tank, when I have 2-3 dps players making aoes, I do not distinguish a damn thing. The casts of the mobs blur with the casts of other players or even the environment. If you are in water and the mobs cast water spells, sometimes you do not notice them. It is similar with poison spells in grass areas. I cannot imagine the clutter of graphics in PvP with 10 players casting areas... Epilepsy FX? xD
I like:
3. The weekly caps are the same for f2p and for subscription players. Subs only have the advantage of reaching the caps faster. I hope they will not introduce any consumable to raise the caps if you pay real money.
I think, that you absolutely dont understand, what meaning of "MONETIZATION" is.
1.) this game is MMO, why do you think, that you will have all classes after 30h of playing ,this game is planned to play it for YEARS (for common players) its why all unlock cost so much gems, AND why its all cost so much gems ?? Cuz PREMIUM, with premium, you will get double gems for reward, double loot etc and WHY premium? CUZ MONEY, and its what my.com wants, MONEY, they are no charity!
2) you are not satisfied with your actual quest offer, BUY another batch for credits/argents/etc. = profit
3) i agree, that social system is poor, text chat in group/lobby etc is made pretty weird, I want something more like clasics gamechat in mmo with small windows for group/map/etc., but gamefinder for plaing in groups work well i think
2. Atlas is 100% linear until you get way into it so whats the point?
3. Feels like playing an mmo version of candy crush with rewards for this and that left right and centre.
4. 3 million different currencies
5. What kind of MMO doesn't have crafting ffs ?!
6. Almost impossible to target team mates while playing a support role
7. Support doesn't involve healing at all - just run over glowing heal balls released by mobs
The game looked nice when I played but its candy crush with bells on revolving around grinding to unlock another reward in an extremely linear fashion..
I don't agree with any of this because that would make the game easier for you. I like a challenge, even if its grindy. You build yourself up slowly which is what the game is about, the classes are just a side perk which you can unlock to enjoy the game more. The game is only about grinding and unlocking and if you attempt to take that away from it, that just removes what the core aspects of the game are. Currently people have a good goal, to work towards a class. When they reach 30.500 prestige, they will have to work towards god form which is MILES away from happening currently, if you are new. Its not supposed to be done in a week, its supposed to take you ages, something you can invest your time in. I don't get why is this generation of gamers are so weak, they want stuff handed to them not actually play the game. If I would have all the classes, I would drop the game the first week cause I already would have mostly tried everything out that the game has to offer. Cause I'm not intrested in waiting for months untill pantheons get their stuff together which is not an options, cause untill they build everything needed for the ''fun'' stuff it will take some time. Its just the same reason why people dropped wildstar, the game was too hard for them. They wanted mostly everything from the getgo or another wow clone, which is quite sad if you ask me. PS: as of current time pvp is the only thing that may be faulty with this game but at the same time, its not the focus of the game, its just ''for fun'' not being competitive.
Next week you'll give a final review? - it's not even fully launched yet.
The devs are responding on the forums, acknowledging areas of development.
As for picking a class you don't like - well the obvious solution is to try it out a lot more in the training room. Not just Archer, I always play one of them so I'll pick it.
As you found out, you can pick from the bottom right corner, so the entire paragraph above that wasn't correct.
You know, this instant need all now mentality is miles away from how mmo's used to be. And it's one of the worst changes that's happened to the genre.
unlocking a new class isnt fully a waste as u get other stats that r needed along the way so not really that big of a deal and another week another class to unlock and try maybe 2 :P
I'm a dps guy. I hate being ranged/magic unless its a hybrid. So, the only reasonable option for me was to start as paladin. I didn't mind paladin in the beginning, but once you go higher in prestige, monsters and bosses health start reaching very very high digits while your damage keeps on going shittier and shittier.
I know, I know, paladin is a tank, but I want to be a dps and until I can unlock slayer, I'm forced to be a tank which can't hold aggro vs cryo cause their damage is insane compared to mine.
I am not sure why there is so much complaining about having to earn things in MMOs. If you actually have to work for stuff it means that much more when you get there.
You might want to watch the world map with content better there are always promo missions that offer to let you play through as classes you dont have unlocked yet. You also get to do this with all the classes abilities unlocked and get twice the rewards for completion. Way better way to see if you like a class before unlocking it than the practice room.
I am not sure why people want stuff handed to them so much and not earn it. Makes it a lot more rewarding to get there if you had to put effort in.
If you watch the quest map in the abservatory and mouse over missions it will offer to repeat one with double rewards and playing as classes you dont even have unlocked yet with all the abilities. Way better way to test out a class than the practice room and the classes it offers change every 40 minutes or so.
Skyforge is quite a great MMO, I'd rate it at least 7.5 (my initial hype level was much, much higher, but I, too, was plagued by little frustrations).
I am with point 2: the open world zones are beautiful and fun with dozens and dozens of people around - yet after the initial playthrough they become worthless and I have to go back to instanced missions for grinding
they should make one of the later open world zones the starter zone. Seriously: the first impression for new players is highly instanced mini-zones and a city hub that is smaller than my living room...
in PvP, the combat system shows its real face (i.e. PSEUDO action combat). What feels like a true action combat system at first, is in fact very much a tab-target system with added free mouse look. Especially if you are a melee class, you will notice that you have to stand still to execute most of your attacks. This (and the fact that you MUST tab-target your enemy to use any attacks) results in a lot of really awkward moments and rather static combat.
the whole User Interface is HORRIBLE. It feels like every UI element is about 3 times the size I want it to be. Nothing can be adjusted (not even a lot of important key binds), no UI scaling, no transparency, no hiding of single windows... As a result, my screen looks like it consists 50% of UI elements.
The spark cap, however, is something I LOVE. In a game that has no upper power limit, this helps me to stay on top as someone who has a full time job and a family...
Anyway, despite my few frustrations this is a GREAT game and I can see myself playing it for a long time, if it stays alive and updated.
From a motivation-based POV, I can hardly remember any MMO that gave me so much to work towards to
the multi-dimensional progression system is amazing (what happens if you combine vertical and horizontal progression? Skyforge!)
the one-character-for-the-rest-of-your-life system (you can change classes on the fly and gender, name and looks anytime) really suits me and my decision-making problems
most importantly: it's just outright FUN to play this game - something a lot of MMOs inherently lack
[e] If you hate the class unlock system (which I can understand) here is a little something for motivation: Completing a class tree 100% gives you a symbol that you can equip on any character. The Lightbinder and especially the Paladin symbol are very, very powerful and considered "must-haves" for endgame (such as there is) and PvP. So if you still work towards the class you *really* wanna play, max out the Paladin first. You will need that symbol on your "dream" class later on.
Next week you'll give a final review? - it's not even fully launched yet.
The devs are responding on the forums, acknowledging areas of development.
The term "open beta" is a pure marketing standpoint. No wipes, selling collector's editions, taking cash... it's launched. That's our stance on reviewing, and it's been that way for a while now. You take money from people and don't plan on wiping progress? That's launched. They can acknowledge areas as much as they like, and I hope they do, but the game's still out there and accepting players' money.
Try to be excellent to everyone you meet. You never know what someone else has seen or endured.
Next week you'll give a final review? - it's not even fully launched yet.
The devs are responding on the forums, acknowledging areas of development.
The term "open beta" is a pure marketing standpoint. No wipes, selling collector's editions, taking cash... it's launched. That's our stance on reviewing, and it's been that way for a while now. You take money from people and don't plan on wiping progress? That's launched. They can acknowledge areas as much as they like, and I hope they do, but the game's still out there and accepting players' money.
100% disagree with you. Video games is not the only product you can buy unfinished. Developers have some rights to say when their game is done. The game industry has changed and we cant judge it by the old standards.
100% disagree with you. Video games is not the only product you can buy unfinished. Developers have some rights to say when their game is done. The game industry has changed and we cant judge it by the old standards.
You can definitely disagree! No problem with that. But that's the creed we live by. It's why we're reviewing Pathfinder, it's why we review tons of "Open Beta" games as launched. Whether you agree or not, trust me when I say that every single F2P MMO we've ever talked to considers their Open Beta a launch. They just don't say it. Using the term open beta, as in Trove's case and others, is a way for a game company to start making money, get some free hype, and then do it all again months down the road with a "launch".
In short, this isn't judging anything by the old standards. This is us playing hardball with the new standards and holding developers accountable for the products they openly sell to customers.
Try to be excellent to everyone you meet. You never know what someone else has seen or endured.
100% disagree with you. Video games is not the only product you can buy unfinished. Developers have some rights to say when their game is done. The game industry has changed and we cant judge it by the old standards.
You can definitely disagree! No problem with that. But that's the creed we live by. It's why we're reviewing Pathfinder, it's why we review tons of "Open Beta" games as launched. Whether you agree or not, trust me when I say that every single F2P MMO we've ever talked to considers their Open Beta a launch. They just don't say it. Using the term open beta, as in Trove's case and others, is a way for a game company to start making money, get some free hype, and then do it all again months down the road with a "launch".
In short, this isn't judging anything by the old standards. This is us playing hardball with the new standards and holding developers accountable for the products they openly sell to customers.
I see it as it is, alpha testing is still alpha testing, beta is still beta and open beta is still the thing where they work out the last few bugs. Problem with how we did things before was often the people who really cared about the game rarely got in. You call it playing hardball and holding them accountable for some marketing trick. To hide behind the term beta when things are broken. When in fact thats just what it is most times, beta problems they are working on. When this is the open beta testing phase, working out the last few bugs before they can call it final polished? They are doing that now.
Only difference is being able to pay for it makes sure the people who really care about the game, get a voice at the table. Can give feedback that matters. Any game I love the idea of, dropping 20-80 bucks to have a voice in its development is a small price to pay. I will take that system any day of the week over hoping I may get my foot in the door on some random invite. IMO, this is a step in the right direction. Open beta is still not launched no matter the fact people are paying for an unfinished product. The game still needs an open beta phase and this is it lol.
@Nan: That's just not what it is. It's what they WANT you to think it is. Believe me, I wish it were true, but for all intents and purposes Open Beta is launch. Not a test at all.
Try to be excellent to everyone you meet. You never know what someone else has seen or endured.
Originally posted by BillMurphy @Nan: That's just not what it is. It's what they WANT you to think it is. Believe me, I wish it were true, but for all intents and purposes Open Beta is launch. Not a test at all.
So when was the open beta phase every MMO needs to have? =-)
100% disagree with you. Video games is not the only product you can buy unfinished. Developers have some rights to say when their game is done. The game industry has changed and we cant judge it by the old standards.
You can definitely disagree! No problem with that. But that's the creed we live by. It's why we're reviewing Pathfinder, it's why we review tons of "Open Beta" games as launched. Whether you agree or not, trust me when I say that every single F2P MMO we've ever talked to considers their Open Beta a launch. They just don't say it. Using the term open beta, as in Trove's case and others, is a way for a game company to start making money, get some free hype, and then do it all again months down the road with a "launch".
In short, this isn't judging anything by the old standards. This is us playing hardball with the new standards and holding developers accountable for the products they openly sell to customers.
Although my opinions on the points in the article differ from Bill's, I am very thankful that they have taken this approach for reviews.
Two reasons. The first, Bill covered. If they are selling and delivering product, it's a reviewable product.
Second reason, if they waited until games "launched", they'd become an irrelevant site that didn't review currently released games.
100% disagree with you. Video games is not the only product you can buy unfinished. Developers have some rights to say when their game is done. The game industry has changed and we cant judge it by the old standards.
You can definitely disagree! No problem with that. But that's the creed we live by. It's why we're reviewing Pathfinder, it's why we review tons of "Open Beta" games as launched. Whether you agree or not, trust me when I say that every single F2P MMO we've ever talked to considers their Open Beta a launch. They just don't say it. Using the term open beta, as in Trove's case and others, is a way for a game company to start making money, get some free hype, and then do it all again months down the road with a "launch".
In short, this isn't judging anything by the old standards. This is us playing hardball with the new standards and holding developers accountable for the products they openly sell to customers.
Although my opinions on the points in the article differ from Bill's, I am very thankful that they have taken this approach for reviews.
Two reasons. The first, Bill covered. If they are selling and delivering product, it's a reviewable product.
Second reason, if they waited until games "launched", they'd become an irrelevant site that didn't review currently released games.
I think they should be going as they do but when launch of the game is official, it should be treated as that and have the final review then. This is when the devs are saying, judge us now. We have labeled this our finished product and what do we get from mmorpg.com stand? Well from Bills words above, we have already done the finial review =-) Any ways, still a fan of this site and what they do. I know how to read between the lines to get the info I want =-) They have always done a great job at speaking their minds right or wrong and for that I always thank them, even when I dont agree lol.
Comments
For being that instanced and repetitive the game would have to have a really good and really action-oriented combat system. Which it doesn't have in my opinion, and that's my biggest problem with it. It's just an oldschool target-lock system in modern disguise. Half of the time dashing or active aiming makes zero sense, we just do it for giving ourselves the impression that it benefits us and because we feel that this should be the way how it's played. But most of the standard attacks even give you a message if you don't have any target which already tells you everything.
It's utterly unbelievable how can you screw up a simple Whisper function nowadays!
The grind to unlock the classes is endless, yeah... and also the bloody caps (but that's been through and through already
)
I believe that our version doesn't have the update regarding group/team play and with prestige differences yet, so hold on that one.
Born from blood,
trained to kill,
ready to die,
but never will!
I don't like:
1. the weekly caps. I cannot progress in the history because I do not have enough prestige (level) and I cannot gain more for this week because
- the drops in instances are always lower than my current ones.
- I capped the sparks limit (currency), so I cannot learn more talents.
- I capped the mastery sparks limit (another type of currency), so I cannot improve the rank of my weapons and rings. I fear the high quantity of this currency that will be needed to upgrade the ranks above level 5. How many weeks will you need to gather enough currency because the weekly limit?
- The rhythm at what you gain prestige from followers is very slow. Besides, It requires a lot of resources. As above, I fear that at higher levels you will need to farm a lot of weeks because of the weekly caps.
In conclusion, it reminds me a lot the phone games where you need days or weeks to upgrade a single structure.
2. FX Visuals. Yes, the FX are quite gorgeous... too much gorgeous I would say. As a tank, when I have 2-3 dps players making aoes, I do not distinguish a damn thing. The casts of the mobs blur with the casts of other players or even the environment. If you are in water and the mobs cast water spells, sometimes you do not notice them. It is similar with poison spells in grass areas. I cannot imagine the clutter of graphics in PvP with 10 players casting areas... Epilepsy FX? xD
I like:
3. The weekly caps are the same for f2p and for subscription players. Subs only have the advantage of reaching the caps faster. I hope they will not introduce any consumable to raise the caps if you pay real money.
^.^'
I think, that you absolutely dont understand, what meaning of "MONETIZATION" is.
1.) this game is MMO, why do you think, that you will have all classes after 30h of playing ,this game is planned to play it for YEARS (for common players) its why all unlock cost so much gems, AND why its all cost so much gems ?? Cuz PREMIUM, with premium, you will get double gems for reward, double loot etc and WHY premium? CUZ MONEY, and its what my.com wants, MONEY, they are no charity!
2) you are not satisfied with your actual quest offer, BUY another batch for credits/argents/etc. = profit
3) i agree, that social system is poor, text chat in group/lobby etc is made pretty weird, I want something more like clasics gamechat in mmo with small windows for group/map/etc., but gamefinder for plaing in groups work well i think
1. Its a lobby game
2. Atlas is 100% linear until you get way into it so whats the point?
3. Feels like playing an mmo version of candy crush with rewards for this and that left right and centre.
4. 3 million different currencies
5. What kind of MMO doesn't have crafting ffs ?!
6. Almost impossible to target team mates while playing a support role
7. Support doesn't involve healing at all - just run over glowing heal balls released by mobs
The game looked nice when I played but its candy crush with bells on revolving around grinding to unlock another reward in an extremely linear fashion..
Uninstalled - No thanks
Next week you'll give a final review? - it's not even fully launched yet.
The devs are responding on the forums, acknowledging areas of development.
As for picking a class you don't like - well the obvious solution is to try it out a lot more in the training room. Not just Archer, I always play one of them so I'll pick it.
As you found out, you can pick from the bottom right corner, so the entire paragraph above that wasn't correct.
You know, this instant need all now mentality is miles away from how mmo's used to be. And it's one of the worst changes that's happened to the genre.
Atm my biggest gripe is the class unlock for me.
I'm a dps guy. I hate being ranged/magic unless its a hybrid. So, the only reasonable option for me was to start as paladin. I didn't mind paladin in the beginning, but once you go higher in prestige, monsters and bosses health start reaching very very high digits while your damage keeps on going shittier and shittier.
I know, I know, paladin is a tank, but I want to be a dps and until I can unlock slayer, I'm forced to be a tank which can't hold aggro vs cryo cause their damage is insane compared to mine.
do know that you can change class any time you want, right ??
just kidding,
GUNNER ALL THE WAYY!!
(maybe berserk :P )
You might want to watch the world map with content better there are always promo missions that offer to let you play through as classes you dont have unlocked yet. You also get to do this with all the classes abilities unlocked and get twice the rewards for completion. Way better way to see if you like a class before unlocking it than the practice room.
Just my two cents
Solo play is for off-line players.
My thoughts too.
If you watch the quest map in the abservatory and mouse over missions it will offer to repeat one with double rewards and playing as classes you dont even have unlocked yet with all the abilities. Way better way to test out a class than the practice room and the classes it offers change every 40 minutes or so.
Just my two cents
Solo play is for off-line players.
Skyforge is quite a great MMO, I'd rate it at least 7.5 (my initial hype level was much, much higher, but I, too, was plagued by little frustrations).
The term "open beta" is a pure marketing standpoint. No wipes, selling collector's editions, taking cash... it's launched. That's our stance on reviewing, and it's been that way for a while now. You take money from people and don't plan on wiping progress? That's launched. They can acknowledge areas as much as they like, and I hope they do, but the game's still out there and accepting players' money.
Try to be excellent to everyone you meet. You never know what someone else has seen or endured.
My Review Manifesto
Follow me on Twitter if you dare.
100% disagree with you. Video games is not the only product you can buy unfinished. Developers have some rights to say when their game is done. The game industry has changed and we cant judge it by the old standards.
You can definitely disagree! No problem with that. But that's the creed we live by. It's why we're reviewing Pathfinder, it's why we review tons of "Open Beta" games as launched. Whether you agree or not, trust me when I say that every single F2P MMO we've ever talked to considers their Open Beta a launch. They just don't say it. Using the term open beta, as in Trove's case and others, is a way for a game company to start making money, get some free hype, and then do it all again months down the road with a "launch".
In short, this isn't judging anything by the old standards. This is us playing hardball with the new standards and holding developers accountable for the products they openly sell to customers.
Try to be excellent to everyone you meet. You never know what someone else has seen or endured.
My Review Manifesto
Follow me on Twitter if you dare.
I see it as it is, alpha testing is still alpha testing, beta is still beta and open beta is still the thing where they work out the last few bugs. Problem with how we did things before was often the people who really cared about the game rarely got in. You call it playing hardball and holding them accountable for some marketing trick. To hide behind the term beta when things are broken. When in fact thats just what it is most times, beta problems they are working on. When this is the open beta testing phase, working out the last few bugs before they can call it final polished? They are doing that now.
Only difference is being able to pay for it makes sure the people who really care about the game, get a voice at the table. Can give feedback that matters. Any game I love the idea of, dropping 20-80 bucks to have a voice in its development is a small price to pay. I will take that system any day of the week over hoping I may get my foot in the door on some random invite. IMO, this is a step in the right direction. Open beta is still not launched no matter the fact people are paying for an unfinished product. The game still needs an open beta phase and this is it lol.
Try to be excellent to everyone you meet. You never know what someone else has seen or endured.
My Review Manifesto
Follow me on Twitter if you dare.
So when was the open beta phase every MMO needs to have? =-)
Try to be excellent to everyone you meet. You never know what someone else has seen or endured.
My Review Manifesto
Follow me on Twitter if you dare.
Although my opinions on the points in the article differ from Bill's, I am very thankful that they have taken this approach for reviews.
Two reasons. The first, Bill covered. If they are selling and delivering product, it's a reviewable product.
Second reason, if they waited until games "launched", they'd become an irrelevant site that didn't review currently released games.
I think they should be going as they do but when launch of the game is official, it should be treated as that and have the final review then. This is when the devs are saying, judge us now. We have labeled this our finished product and what do we get from mmorpg.com stand? Well from Bills words above, we have already done the finial review =-) Any ways, still a fan of this site and what they do. I know how to read between the lines to get the info I want =-) They have always done a great job at speaking their minds right or wrong and for that I always thank them, even when I dont agree lol.